Theatrical stage.



No. 731,094. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

- H. w. BISHOP.

THEATRIGAL STAGE.

APPLIOATION FILED JA N. 12, 1903.

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PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

H. W. BISHOP. THEATRIGAL STAGE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

ATENT OFFICE.

HARRY W. BISHOP, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TH EATRJCAL STAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 731,094, dated June 16, 1903. Application filed January 12, 1903. Serial No. 138,640. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY W. BISHOP, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Theatrical Stages; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in theatrical stages.

It comprises the combination, with the stationary portion of the stage, of a revoluble central portion upon the same plane, with means for setting scenery so that a plurality of settings for different scenes may be arranged upon the table. In conjunction therewith are means for revolving the table so as to bring any desired scene to the front, means by which the accessory portions of the stage both above and below the main level may be revolved in unison with the revoluble floor of the stage, and means for connecting electrical wires between the stationary and movable portions. Y

It also comprises details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation and partial section of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a partial plan and horizontal section of the stage. Fig. 3 is a partial section of the central post and connections. Fig. 3 is a plan of insulating-rings. Fig. 4 shows the stage-setting. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section detail of one of the plates 17. In the usual construction and operation of stationary theatrical stages considerable time must elapse between the various scenes for the purpose of clearing away the scenery previously used and resetting the stage for the following scenes. It has been attempted to partially remedy this difficultyby the use of revoluble portions of the stage having fixed rooms or scenes arranged radially upon the revoluble portion; but such construction greatly limits the character of the setting to be used, as each one of the various rooms represented is limited in depth and cannot ex tend beyond the center of the revoluble portion.

- It is the object of my invention to so combine a revoluble central stage with the stationary side portions and wings as ,to allow for the setting of a variety of scenes upon the revoluble portion without reference to the center of revolution and to thus prepare the stage for several scenes, so that no time may be lost in making the change.

It is also designed to connect the main revolublestage with a substage which is also revoluble, means for connecting the same with the usual traps, means by which the two stages are revoluble in unison, and means for introducing electric conducting-Wiresthrough a central hollow post and maintaining con nection with the various lighting or other devices to be operated by currents through said Wires.

It also comprises connections between the 'main revoluble floor and the gridiron or rigging-lof t and fly-gallery whereby the various drops, wings, and sets necessary to the particular scenes may be manipulated Without interfering with the revolubility of the stage. Thisis made possible by the use of suspended drops and scenes which are set up and supported directly upon the table without the use of the stationary fixed grooves or slides employed on stationary stages.

As shown in the drawings, A represents the stationary portion of a theatrical stage having a circular central opening of as large diameter as the area of the stage will permit. Within this central opening the revoluble portion B of the stage is fitted to revolve. This portion of the stage is composed of two parallel sets of main timbers 2, properly framed together, crossing each other at right angles at the center of the stage, and to these timbers are framed or united the floor-joists 3, which form the support for the flooring 4. This flooring is laid-preferably diagonal upon the floor-joists and may be in two or more layerscrossing each other at angles, as shown. Through this floor are the various traps or openings, as at 5, which are necessary adj uncts to stage representations. From the center of this turnable stage a hollow post 6 extends downwardly into a pit formed, preferably, in a cement-rock foundation ofsuflicient strength directly beneath the stage. This post may be connected with the stage by heavy steel arms or in any other suitable mechanical way. The bottom of the post has preferably a flanged arch construction, as at 7, forming a circular base, and this'base is supported upon ball or roller bearings having suitable surfaces of support, so that in the revolution of the apparatus the parts wil turn easily.

Con nected' with the post 6, at about the level of the floor, beneath the stage, is a second circular-revoluble floor 8, built in any suitable manner and its peripherysupported upon ball or roller bearings, as at 9. Between'the two revoluble portions B and 8 are suitable stanchions, as 10, which support the upper floor directly from the lower one, and while the center of both floors is revolubly supported from the post 6 the two floors being connected by these stanchions have their peripheries supported upon the autifrictional bearings 9. The two revoluble floors are thus adapted to move in unison and may be actuated by a suitable driving-gear, which may consist of toothed segments, as 11, carried by the lower table near its periphery, a pinion 12, mounted upon a shaft, as 13, and

engaging the teeth of the segment, and a speed. The mechanism for thus moving the stage may be actuated by electrical or other apparatus and controlled directly by the stage manager, so that the movements will take place at the desired instant and the amount of movement can be accurately controlled.

In order to form a suitable joint between the periphery of the revoluble stage and the inner circle of the stationary portion and to prevent any binding which might occur from the warping or settling of so large a surface, I have shown rollers, as at 15, carried by one portion and contactingwithasuitable circular track, as at 16, carried by the other con tiguous portion,so that the stage will not become stuck by accidental contact between the edges, and easy movement will be assured. A sufficient space must be left between the two contiguous edges to prevent any contact while moving, and this space may be properly covered by thin metalllc plates or segments, as 17, fixed to one portion and projecting over the open slot upon the other, the plates being so thin as not to interfere with the movement of persons or articles from one portion of the stage to the other. These sections may be hinged or otherwise so disposed that they can be easily taken up or turned backward, if desired, for inspection of these portions of the apparatus.

It will be manifest that in the handling of the various drops and scenes which are usually raised and lowered from the fly-gallery and rigging-loft provision must be made for supporting these parts from above,'so that they may also be turnable with the stage. For this purpose posts may be set, as shown at 18, near or at the periphery of the main stageA and at such points as to not interfere with the setting of the scenery or the relation of the stage to the proscenium arch or opening P. These posts extend upwardly to any required height and support a supplemental revoluble fly-gallery 19, which is on a level with the stationary fly-gallery 20. This movable gallery may be in the form of anarrow annular table having a diameter similar to that of the stage and the usual mechanism carried thereon for the handling of the various drops and scenes which are to be manipulated therefrom. Above this gallery posts may be extended again, as shown at 21, and these carry what is known as the riggingloft or gridiron above the fly-gallery,- so that all parts necessary to the manipulation of the scenery are revoluble in unison with the movements of the stage. 'Thus if the stage is to be set for four different acts, as in the play called F The American Citizen, one portion of the stage may represent the office interior, withthe necessary walls, doors therethrough, and other connections supported directlyupon the revoluble portion of the stage, these having a comparatively shallow depth. The second act may represent the exterior of the hotel, with the house, bushes, balustrade, and what is known as the cut-drop and the back drop occupying a great portion-of the width across the central portion of the revoluble stage and extending a considerable distance back of the actual centerot' the revoluble portion. The third act may representa fancy interior with suitable drops, settings,exits, all

supported upon the movable portion of the stage and with proper relation to the proscenium arch. Thishavingacomparativelyshallow depth and being opposite to the setting of the first act will leave a sufficient space between the two for the spacious setting necessary for the second act, as previously described. The fourth act represents a rustic attic, and this again is comparatively shallow in depth, and thus allows for the great depth of the second act; From this illustration it will be seen that the setting ofastage of this character is extremely flexible and that settings may be made for any ordinary number of acts, so that no changes will need to be made during the progress of the play, or if it be desirable to make changes in the 'settings they can be easily accomplished during the performance while one setting is presented to the audience, so that no time need be lost in revolving the stage and bringing the setting for the next act into position. As all the parts necessary for the manipulation of the scenery and'the relative position of the traps and portions below the stage are revoluble in unison with the stage, the parts are always maintained in proper position.

It is necessary to contrive some means for lighting and in some cases for operating mechanical devices upon the stage, and in order to make suitable connections for this apparatus I have shown wires which may IIO lead down through the central hollow post 6, as at 23, and other wires, as at 24, may lead through the foundation or through a lower stationary portion of the subfloor and can enter the revoluble post from below. In order to maintain the necessary connection between these stationary wires and those which are movable with the stage, revoluble contacts or brushes may be em'ployedwith which the stationary and movable wires connect, as at 25, so that whatever movement or position the stage may take the currents can be maintained without interruption.

It will be understood that in small theaters or where it is not desired to employ the double revolving floors the portion on a level with the main floor of the stage only may be made revoluble, in which case the driving and supporting devices would be applied directly to this portion instead of the lower or sub stage, as previously described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a stationary stage having a central circular opening, of a revolubly-rnounted stage fitting said opening and comprising upper and lower floors and means connecting them, antifriction devices disposed around the edge of the upper floor, and means for operating the revolubly-mounted stage.

2. The combination of a stationary stage having a central opening, a circular stage 1ying within said opening and comprising upper and lower floors and connecting-stanchions, said upper floor being essentially in a plane with the stationary stage, said central stage having a central downwardly-extendin g post and antifrictional bearing-step therefor, and rollers whereby the periphery of the revoluble portion of the stage is supported and maintained essentially upon the plane of the stationary stage.

3. The combination in a theatrical stage of a stationary exterior portion having a circular central opening, a circular stage having step and antifrictional bearings and means whereby it is revoluble essentially in the plane of the stationary portion, a second circular portion connected and revoluble with the upper portion of the stage, with stanchions extending vertically between the two, antifrictional rollers located beneath the lower section and driving-gear mechanism whereby motion is transmitted through said lower section to revolve both it and the upper portion of the stage.

4. The combination in atheatrical stage of an exterior stationary portion having a circular central opening, a circular central stage fitting said opening, and a second circular portion in the plane of the floor'beneath the stage, connections between the two floors, an-

tifrictional bearings and mechanism by which they are supported and revoluble in unison, traps through the upper stage and connections therewith carried by the lower one and means for supporting and manipulating the scenery upon the upper stage independent of the stationary exterior portion.

5. The combination in a theatrical stage of a stationary exterior portion having a circular central opening, a circular central stage fitting and revoluble within said opening upon essentially the plane of the stationary stage with antifrictional guiding, bearing and driving mechanism,posts extending upwardly from the periphery of said stage and a flygallery and rigging-loft carried thereby and turnable in unison with the movements of the stage.

6. The combination in a theatrical stage of a stationary exterior portion having a circular central opening, a central revoluble stage fitting said opening with antitrictional guiding and supporting devices, a central hollow post stepped in the floor below electrical conducting-wires leading into the lower part of the hollow post, other wires leading up through the post and distributing about the revoluble stage and revoluble brushes or connections whereby communication between the stationary and movable wires is maintained.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY W. BISHOP. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, GEo. H. STRONG. 

